Gina Prince-Bythewood

Three black women released movies in 2014, more than ever before in a single year. And one of them is a contender for the motion picture academy's top prize.

But that's just three films in one year — out of the 373 that came out in theaters.

Black female filmmakers are one of Hollywood's greatest rarities. In the past seven years, only three were connected to the top 700 movies, according to recent research by the University of Southern California's Media, Diversity & Social Change Initiative.

"The ecosystem of filmmaking is problematic for women and people of color," said initiative director Stacy L. Smith. More than 95 percent of the directors of...

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Three black women released movies in 2014, more than ever before in a single year. And one of them is a contender for the motion picture academy's top prize.
But that's just three films in one year — out of the 373 that came out in theaters.
Black...

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